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Roosters turn to Hastings for NRL help

James MacSmith

The Sydney Roosters are set to turn to one of the club's most famous names to try to alleviate their hooking crisis in the lead-up to the NRL finals.

With first-choice No.9 Jake Friend sidelined with a hamstring injury and his back-up Heath L'Estrange out for the season with a knee issue, boom rookie Jackson Hastings - the son of Roosters great Kevin Hastings - is set to make his NRL debut against the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.

Mitchell Aubusson has been named at hooker by coach Trent Robinson but, given the 26-year-old has played little more than 80 minutes in the role over his eight-year NRL career totalling almost 150 games - Hastings is set to be thrust into a playmaking role off the bench for the vital round-24 clash.

Considered one of the greatest players never to represent Australia, former Tricolours captain Kevin Hastings played 239 games for the Roosters.

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Jackson joined the Roosters at the start of the year after moving from St George Illawarra and has trained with the first-grade squad for the majority of the season and has excelled in the Holden Cup.

Sonny Bill Williams hasn't been named to make a return from a thumb injury for the premiers.

Konrad Hurrell is back at centre for the Warriors in a match sure to have a significant bearing on the final make-up of the top eight.

Canberra captain Terry Campese's future in the nation's capital is under a cloud after being overlooked for the wooden-spoon clash away against Cronulla on Sunday.

Campese has overcome an abdominal injury but Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has preferred Josh McCrone and Anthony Milford as his halves.

Bodene Thompson returns from suspension to boost the Wests Tigers in their match against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Manly's Steve Matai has recovered from a shoulder injury for Friday's away match against Parramatta.

The suspended Junior Paulo and Peni Terepo are back for the Eels at the expense of Fui Fui Moi Moi and Pauli Pauli.

Lachlan Maranta replaces Josh Hoffman (leg) at fullback for Brisbane's clash with Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, with Willie Mason back from a bout of 'flu for the Knights.

Kyle Turner replaces the suspended Ben Te'o in the South Sydney back-row as they host North Queensland on Saturday night.

Both St George Illawarra and the Gold Coast have named unchanged 17s for Sunday's match at Kogarah Oval. Dave Taylor (neck/calf) could be a late inclusion for the Titans.

Penrith are yet to name a replacement for hooker James Segeyaro (ankle) for Monday's home game against Melbourne to conclude round 24.